The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-03-24
The Fate Of Railroad Legislation on Freishts
and Fares.

Mr.. Mobiles bill, called the Interstate commerce
bill to adjust matters in which claim there are
many injustices practiced, had cold reception
from the railroad committee. 1t was said by one
of the committee that it was the intention to
"pigcOn hole" the bill. This they failed to do, as
an order was introduced asking these gentlemen
to report, which they did the very last day of the
session, and referred the present bill well as the
two last years ones to the next Legislature. This
was doing all they could to wipe out the whole
matter The Senate accepted the report and it
came down to the House for concurrence Here
the report of the committee and the Senate were
opposed and some points were made 1t was
demonstrated that some members were not con
trolled by any power except their convictions of
right and wrong, and for once, for the last twenty
years, there were speeches made in the House by
representatives not wholly in interest of railroads
Mr.. Noble, of Lewiston, made the best speech of
the winter He told the railroad companies what
they could depend upon if they did not 90 to work
on principles of fair play and adjust the gricv-
ances existing all over the State. He also reflected
on the railroad committee who had held the bill
until the last day Of the session in order to Kill it.
In my remarks gave them some solid facts to
mediate upon, some of which are that their
tariff rates made when the company was poor and
when prices of labor and all other articles were
nearly double what they are now, mad not been
changed for quarter of century, although they
had cut down their help to almost starvation prices
anu their stocks had gone from small price up to
more than one hundred and fifty dollars per share
that they were making large dividends for the
benefit of few capitalists. a large part Of whom
live on the other side of the Atlantic and which
were unfairly drawn from the bone and sincw and
business enterprise of the State of Maine; that
every farmer or mechanic producer or consumer
OF Maine was paying this extra toll and that the
public when they understood more about these
eXorbltaht over charges would rally and send men
to the Legislature who would correct them and
look out for their interests as well It's those of the
rich corporations.
MIR. Walton made telling speech and explained
to the House the injustice done his town of Skow.
hogan. The rates of freight at his town bear the
same proportion to freight rates at Bangor as
thirty to eight; yet Bangor is the longest route,
showing that railroad companies make the town
or individuals necessity their opportunity OF
course the fight made this, the last day of the
session, cou" hardly help being a losing one, with
the adverse committee report and great pressure
brought to bear on every member. The railroad
lawyers were on the spot in force. 1t forlorn
hope, yet we were anxious to have an expression
to see how many had backbone enough 10 stand
up and show that they could not be awed into dom.
what they know was wrong On yea and nay
vote thirty two good solid stand-up fellows voted
not to accept the committees report or to concur
with the Senate in accepting the same.
We have demonstrated one fact which is that
railroad legislation can be brought about when
the people take hold Of it, IIEry